A German lorry driver has been jailed for more than a year after a crash he caused left another man with life-changing injuries.

Enreco Ruhm, 36, drove on the wrong side of the road for just a few seconds but it was enough for his articulated lorry to smash head-on into Robert Gooch’s Land Rover discovery.

The smash, which happened on a blind bend, at about 6.30am on the A229 Staplehurst Road, occurred about 300 metres from the junction with Summerhill Road.

It happened near Marden three days before Christmas and Mr Gooch, 50, was taken to Kings College Hospital in London, and the road was closed for more than eight hours.

Ruhm, of Nuremburg, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing and was sentenced on Friday at Maidstone Crown Court.

Trevor Wright, prosecuting, told the court Mr Gooch was trapped in his vehicle and had to be freed by firefighters.

He spent 60 days in hospital and has had to have various operations and procedures and physiotherapy and will never be able to return to his job as a mechanic.

Mr Wright added: “Mr Gooch suffered multiple injuries including 17 fractured ribs, a sternum fracture, his left lung collapsed and he suffered a complicated hip and pelvis facture which resulted in him having to have a new hip.”

Mr Wright said Mr Gooch also suffered many other injuries and would have to undergo another operation to repair a kneecap and that he found simple physical tasks very difficult.

He added: “At one point (while in hospital) his wife had to ask the consultant if he was going to die.

“She was unable to confirm.

“He spent 12 days on a ventilator and now struggles to recognise people - even his 15-year-old daughter.”

The court also heard Mr Gooch struggles to hold cups and has been told he will never be able to run or jump again and will not be able to return to his job as the work will be too much strain on his hip.

Puneet Grewal, defending said her client was still in shock over the incident.

She added: “He has been a HGV driver for 12 years and for a moment of 0.5 seconds he was on the other side of the road and smashed into the other driver.

“At one point (while in hospital) his wife had to ask the consultant if he was going to die.

"She was unable to confirm" - Trevor Wright

“He can’t explain why and was unable to explain. It was a momentary lapse in his decision thinking.

“He went the aid of the victim, it was all he cared about and he is still in shock and has genuine remorse.”

Recorder Matthew McDonagh, said he accepted Ruhm was of positively good character and took into account he had driven such vehicles for 12 years without incident.

He added: “Your employer speaks very highly of you and your reaction to the incident also speaks volumes. I know you have genuine remorse and I have read a heartfelt letter from yourself.

“You were on the wrong side of the road for a short time and this was dangerous driving not careless.

“It is clear there should be custody, you will serve 14 months in custody.”

Ruhm was also banned from driving in this country for two years and seven months and will need to take an extended test to drive in this country again.